Software Recommendation

[Gresh12]

I just took the plunge and ordered a Skytrak after much deliberation I felt the value at the price point was right for me. I am now trying to decide which simulation software fits me best but I may not end up buying for awhile to spread my cost out a bit (and I may want to see actual feature list of TGC 2019). My selection criteria isn't the typical number of courses and graphics quality.

Pertinent details:
- I have a small room and can't change that so I am limited to 4 iron as I can swing my 3 hybrid but too timid to go all out and 3 wood hits the ceiling. For reference I fly an average 4 iron around 195 yards and driver 265.
- I hit in to a net and I have access to both an iPad and laptop. Regardless which software I end up with the screen will be off to the side.
- I think it would be fun to play tournaments but I have come to terms that it probably won't be possible to compete properly with my 4 iron limit.
- Cost of ownership matters but timing of payments matters less. By this I mean I am fine with a subscription model or a lifetime license option (assuming it's an actual lifetime license and I don't get excluded from upgrades before the cost is as least as low per year as a subscription would have been or subscription cost is so high I could have bought outright in a couple years).

Questions/Comments for feedback:
- I am leaning towards TGC because I think I can work around the 4 iron limitation by setting boost values for driver and woods to scale my 4 iron distance to mimic a driver and a 3 wood. I suspect the ball flight may be a bit wild relative to a real driver but I suspect I can dial in what I feel is fair distance and play proper rounds with a lot of practice with 4 iron off the tee (which actually works for me as my home course is setup such that I have 3 holes where 4 iron is the club off the tee anyway). Does this seem reasonable as an approach? Is TGC the only software where boost can be set by subsets of clubs (applying a flat percentage across the bag won't work as I want iron shots to go the right distance)? If the answers here are both yes then I think my decision is probably made.
- Has there been any information on TGC changing boost parameters for TGC 2019? I suspect there are no details but if they take out this feature then I am back to stuck with 4-iron.
- Do any of the tours play shorter tees or have a shorter tee category? I know the boost alternative for woods won't work to play tournaments. I suspect yardages on tour courses will be pretty tough with a max distance of 200 off the tee. If I was playing the white's instead of the black's with par 4s coming in under 400 yards I could live with it but I won't have fun playing 450 yard par 4s I can't reach in two.

Any other thoughts/considerations I should be taking in to account?

Thanks

[sdrthedj]

JNPG allows you to select different tees. So you can play from the forward tees and hit iron all the time and play lots of different courses. Game play is good, graphics are good.

It also allows the option to do different combines.

[ProTee United]

The next TGC version will have multiple tee boxes and pin positions.

[Yeti Rojo]

I just took the plunge and ordered a Skytrak after much deliberation I felt the value at the price point was right for me. I am now trying to decide which simulation software fits me best but I may not end up buying for awhile to spread my cost out a bit (and I may want to see actual feature list of TGC 2019). My selection criteria isn't the typical number of courses and graphics quality.

Pertinent details:
- I have a small room and can't change that so I am limited to 4 iron as I can swing my 3 hybrid but too timid to go all out and 3 wood hits the ceiling. For reference I fly an average 4 iron around 195 yards and driver 265.
- I hit in to a net and I have access to both an iPad and laptop. Regardless which software I end up with the screen will be off to the side.
- I think it would be fun to play tournaments but I have come to terms that it probably won't be possible to compete properly with my 4 iron limit.
- Cost of ownership matters but timing of payments matters less. By this I mean I am fine with a subscription model or a lifetime license option (assuming it's an actual lifetime license and I don't get excluded from upgrades before the cost is as least as low per year as a subscription would have been or subscription cost is so high I could have bought outright in a couple years).

Questions/Comments for feedback:
- I am leaning towards TGC because I think I can work around the 4 iron limitation by setting boost values for driver and woods to scale my 4 iron distance to mimic a driver and a 3 wood. I suspect the ball flight may be a bit wild relative to a real driver but I suspect I can dial in what I feel is fair distance and play proper rounds with a lot of practice with 4 iron off the tee (which actually works for me as my home course is setup such that I have 3 holes where 4 iron is the club off the tee anyway). Does this seem reasonable as an approach? Is TGC the only software where boost can be set by subsets of clubs (applying a flat percentage across the bag won't work as I want iron shots to go the right distance)? If the answers here are both yes then I think my decision is probably made.
- Has there been any information on TGC changing boost parameters for TGC 2019? I suspect there are no details but if they take out this feature then I am back to stuck with 4-iron.
- Do any of the tours play shorter tees or have a shorter tee category? I know the boost alternative for woods won't work to play tournaments. I suspect yardages on tour courses will be pretty tough with a max distance of 200 off the tee. If I was playing the white's instead of the black's with par 4s coming in under 400 yards I could live with it but I won't have fun playing 450 yard par 4s I can't reach in two.

Any other thoughts/considerations I should be taking in to account?

Thanks

1st of all, congratulations on making the plunge. Welcome to the addiction!

If you plan on playing tournaments on TGC, keep in mind that the max boost setting on any club is 5%. So your 4 iron is going to go 210 instead of 200. That’s not going to solve your issue.

That said, I don’t think you’d be at a significant disadvantage. Your handicap would reflect the fact that you’re hitting longer clubs into the greens, because the reality is you won’t be hitting your 4 iron as close as you’d be hitting your 8 iron.

I have both TGC and JNPG. I enjoy them both for different reasons.

My suggestion would be to start with JNPG. The software costs $35. I think you can do a 1 week trial for $20, so you’re only in $55 if you don’t like it.

I think the community is much more active on JNPG, so you have better access to people that can help when you have questions. And trust me you’ll have questions at the beginning.

If you choose to join the tour, it’s another $20 every 6 months. I put my sim together in December, and I can say without hesitation the $20 for the tour is the best money I’ve spent. The practice options are so much better.

There’s nothing that prevents you from getting TGC ‘19 when it is eventually released. I personally think TGC looks better, and there are a LOT of courses to choose from.

You might also find it useful to read through Drew Taylor’s thread on GolfWRX comparing the 2.

Good luck!

[Yeti Rojo]

JNPG allows you to select different tees. So you can play from the forward tees and hit iron all the time and play lots of different courses. Game play is good, graphics are good.

It also allows the option to do different combines.

Yes, you can select different tees, but if you’re playing in a tournament everyone is playing from the same tees.